Two Types of Downbeats and an Upbeat | What Downbeats Sound Like and How We Use Them

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What’s a downbeat, what’s an upbeat, how do we use them, and what do they sound like? This lesson will answer all of those questions and more, including giving you 2 different definitions of a downbeat. We will also cover upbeats, look at these curious characters on the page, and listen to them in my original musical example. This music may not win any awards, but damn, you sure can hear those downbeats!

If you have comments, questions, or requests for other topics, please let me know in the comments or visit me at

🎧LESSON INDEX
0:00 Lesson Intro
0:30 Downbeat Definition #1
1:46 Upbeats
2:33 Counting Downbeats and Upbeats
3:21 Listening for Downbeats and Upbeats
4:11 What Does a Downbeat Sound Like?
5:17 Downbeat Definition #2

💡 LESSON TOPICS:
♪ A downbeat is the “start” of a beat
♪ A “beat” is when you tap your foot or bob your head
♪ Where is your physical movement to the music? That's where the beat is!
♪ The “upbeat” is the exact moment between two downbeats
♪ We count the downbeats with numbers and the upbeats by saying “and”
♪ The downbeat should SOUND like a downbeat; it usually has more weight to it by being accented or played just a little bit louder
♪ The downbeat can ALSO mean the first beat in a measure
♪ Listen for these cues on the downbeat of each bar: Guitar strum, Guitar melody, Cymbal crash

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🔴 Understanding Triplet Rhythms for Beginners | Your Easy Guide to 8th-Note Triplets


🧑 ABOUT ME
My name is Alex, and my passion is teaching music online. I’m a bass player and composer by training and trade, but what I really love to do is teach. I make my living teaching private lessons on Bass, Guitar, Piano, and Ukulele. My favorite thing to teach is theory - helping the students understand the “why” behind the music and empowering them to make better and more informed musical choices. I’m very adamant about teaching technique. This is how you gain power and control over your instrument and ultimately raise the ceiling on where your limits are and where they will be in the future.

I appreciate you participating in learning music with me, either for free through my videos or in private lessons in my virtual studio. Players of all abilities and backgrounds are welcome! There’s no music lesson I don’t love.

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